Lip Liners Are Secretly Our Favorite Lipsticks

Lip liners typically serve as the primers to your lipstick. But you can skip the extra layering step and fill in lips with just the pencil alone—a welcome departure from your current 20-step makeup routine. Streamline your lip color with the loveliest, hardest-working, longest-lasting liners. Like these, for example.

Lip liner is a genius cosmetic that isn't nearly as celebrated as it should be. Sure, it's normally made to help maintain lipstick coverage and define your pout, but we've found liner used as a lipstick is actually one of the best ways to get amazing stand-alone color.

The key to making a lip liner work on its own is the formula. Shop for liners that glide on easily, such as gels and crayons. Pencils tend to be dry and more difficult to work with, but they can be made more manageable by dampening the tip with either water or a colorless lip balm so you can hydrate as you apply.